Route Management Services (RMS) was established in 2009 by a group of specialists with extensive knowledge and experience in the trucking and logistics industry. The business is focused on incident risk management and has developed several innovative technology solutions around this.
RMS manages and monitors all trucking incidents to benefit not only the transporter but also the insurer. With highly trained staff, one of the most effective digital management systems, and a countrywide network of selected service providers, RMS is a leader in the field.
One of the key solutions in the RMS stable is the ICAB 2000 two-way camera system that is attached to the windscreen of a vehicle. It automates warnings and emergency indicators to initiate the appropriate response. The device captures imagery in both the cab and on the road at the time of the event which is then sent via a SIM card for processing in a national operations centre. The ICAB 2000 features Please Call Me and Panic buttons to provide drivers with additional ways of getting in touch in the event of an emergency.
Given the extensive footprint of the ICAB 2000 devices in South Africa, RMS needed a more effective solution to distribute and manage the SIM cards in operation. “Our biggest challenge was to get the large amount of SIM cards for the fleet from local service providers. Additionally, if any of the devices got stolen it was a cumbersome and expensive process to perform a SIM swop,” says Cliff Harwin, financial director at RMS.
RMS was also concerned that if the SIMs were not managed properly, it would have a significant impact in how it tracked vehicles and billed clients. After investigating several service providers, RMS decided on Flickswitch because of its real-time platform that can efficiently respond to all data SIM management needs.
The solution
Since its launch in 2007, Flickswitch has built a reputation as an organisation that simplifies GSM SIM management. It focuses on machine-to-machine, telemetry, and bulk direct airtime payments across various mobile networks.
“Flickswitch provided us with a smooth first SIM roll-out to the more than 1 000 devices and all the subsequent activation of all devices currently in operation. Now, all our SIMs are on prepaid with the company further simplifying the management process. This means that if we stop using a specific SIM, we do not have to pay for it,” says Harwin.
According to Kees Snijders, MD of Flickswitch, RMS required a tailored approach that would have the minimal impact on business operations. “As these SIMs are fundamental to the business, our team needed to provide RMS with a seamless implementation while still keeping their clients happy,” he says.
“Going with Flickswitch means that we now have access to one of the most advanced SIM management solutions in the country. The SIMs are automatically topped up with specified amounts so we never lose contact with any of our devices in the field,” adds Harwin.
He says that it is also now possible to easily verify whether an ICAB 2000 is working properly and identify any errors. “In the past, if a SIM was not reporting back data it was a massive issue to get the information back. With Flickswitch, this challenge has now been overcome. This also means that we now have access to information on a more real-time basis,” says Harwin.
Harwin cites the responsiveness of the Flickswitch team to any queries or technical issues as exceptional. “Even if we ran into a problem on a Sunday, the Flickswitch team got back to us very quickly. They also supplied us with the required SIMs in a timeous fashion. The relationship is really working very well for us.”
Snijders agrees, “The road ahead with this partnership is quite exciting as there are many opportunities for growth. This could include expansion into the rest of Africa and leveraging our advanced reports for additional insight.”
For more information, go to www.flickswitch.co.za
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